Sports

Poulter Rants On Twitter, Matsuyama Apologizes

DORAL, FL – MARCH 08: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan (C) greets Ian Poulter of England on the practice ground as interpreter Robert Tuner looks on during the third round of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral on March 8, 2014 in Doral, Florida. Poulter was upset that Matsuyama damaged a putting surface in round two. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Top Features

DORAL (AP) — Hideki Matsuyama has apologized to Ian Poulter for damaging the 13th green and not repairing it at the Cadillac Championship.

Ian Poulter criticized Hideki Matsuyama on Twitter and referred to him as an “idiot” for damaging the 13th green at Doral with his putter and not repairing it. Matsuyama apologized to him Saturday morning before they teed off together in the Cadillac Championship.

Matsuyama missed a 7-foot par putt in the second round Friday and slammed his putter into the green, leaving what one caddie described as a half-inch gash.

Poulter was in the group behind the 22-year-old from Japan. The damage was in the line of Charl Schwartzel’s 12-foot par putt, and a rules official was called out to repair the damage before Schwartzel putted. He missed and made bogey.

The incident escaped noticed until Poulter, with over 1.6 million followers, took to Twitter late Friday.

“Playing with Matsuyama tomo. He buried his putter in the 13th green 5 ft from the hole, Referee had to repair the crater. Because he didn’t,” the first tweet said.

Poulter followed with two more tweets:

— “Why should Matsuyama leave a crater in the green for others to putt over, or have to call a referee to repair the damage. Idiot.”

— “Im no saint & first to say. But that was disgusting. I wouldn’t bury a putter in a green 5 ft from a hole & have players behind deal with it.”

Matsuyama, the No. 22 player in the world who last year became the first rookie to win the Japan Golf Tour money list, was already on the practice range when Poulter arrived. He immediately walked to the other end of the range with his interpreter, Bob Turner, and apologized.

Poulter shook his hand and said, “I make loads of mistakes.”

“If you’re going to do it, repair it,” he explained to Matsuyama, who nodded his head.

Poulter ended the brief exchange by saying, “No words today,” indicating that there was no need to bring it up again during their third round.

Turner said Matsuyama already apologized to Jason Dufner, who was in the group with Poulter, and would seek out Schwartzel.

“He wishes he could apologize to the field,” Turner said. “All he can do is promise not to do it again. No excuses.”